The Italgas Group and the Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino (I3P) present a new initiative, entitled "Shaping the Future of Energy Networks", to explore the national and international innovation ecosystem, with the aim of gathering and analysing advanced solutions and technologies capable of continuing to contribute to the digital transformation of energy infrastructures.
Technological innovation developed by research teams and young companies is indeed an important enabling factor for the further evolution of large infrastructures. The new call launched by Italgas and I3P, within the framework of the open innovation programme "Ideas 4 Italgas" initiated in 2020, aims to identify project proposals capable of contributing to the strengthening of the resilience, intelligence and security of gas and water networks, as well as to the transition towards zero or low-emission energy systems, fostering digitalisation, operational efficiency, the integration of renewable gases and sustainable long-term decarbonisation models.
The opportunities of the initiative
The best candidate projects will have the opportunity to engage with Italgas and the Group's subsidiaries, as well as to receive a range of potential benefits and support for their further development on the market.
Participation in the initiative offers, in fact, the possibility of obtaining resources from Italgas to develop a Proof-of-Concept (PoC), i.e. a first concrete application aimed at verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solution in the field; but also of benefiting from Italgas Mentorship, to explore the possible integration of the product or service into business processes, as well as of entering one of I3P's incubation programmes aimed at refining the entrepreneurial knowledge and skills necessary for the maturation of the project, supporting the search for external funding and fostering their networking.
The ultimate goal is to guide the most promising solutions towards progressive large-scale adoption within the Italgas Group, facilitating their validation in the sector.
The targets of the call
The call focuses on two main areas of interest. The first is "Resilient Grid", solutions to make gas and water distribution networks smarter, safer and more resilient to external events and self-adaptive to operating conditions, through the use of both digital technologies – such as artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced sensors – and new construction methodologies. The second area, "Energy Transition", encompasses the optimisation of resource use and the transition towards low-emission energy systems, enabling the development of decarbonisation technologies.
The initiative is open to working groups and incorporated companies. To be eligible, candidate projects must be at one of three stages of maturity: "Idea", capable of being translated into a prototype by 2027; "MVP", i.e. a prototype capable of opening new market segments and opportunities; "Products on the market", meaning products and services already commercialised or ready for launch.
Participation in the initiative is free of charge: project applications, in Italian or English, must be submitted on the Ideas 4 Italgas website by the deadline of Friday, 31 July 2026. All applications received will be evaluated by October, and the final award ceremony for the winners will be held in Turin in November.
The collaboration of Italgas and I3P
"In recent years our Group has undergone a profound transformation, grounded in the digitalisation of assets, technological innovation and, of course, a concrete commitment to serving the energy transition", said Leonardo Ambrosi, Group Innovation Officer at Italgas. "In this context, Open Innovation has established itself not only as an enabler of development, but as a strategic driver capable of accelerating change and generating value. With this new call, we further strengthen this approach, once again opening up dialogue with the external ecosystem to capture new ideas, expertise and solutions capable of contributing to the sustainable growth of the Italgas Group."
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate once again with the Italgas Group, an international organisation that has placed technological evolution and a commitment to sustainability at the heart of its strategic vision", commented Giuseppe Scellato, President of I3P. "This year too, as in 2021 and 2024, the open innovation initiative by Italgas and I3P will offer startups and teams of innovators a concrete opportunity for direct engagement with a major industry player, possibilities for joint experimentation and entrepreneurial growth, with the expert guidance of the incubator's specialists."
